Since 1989, Sam Auinger and Bruce Odland (O+A) have been researching the properties of sound in urban spaces. In their installations they react to the soundscape of public spaces with subtle acoustic transformations, thus changing the way a place is perceived.
The artistic method O+A have developed, transforms urban sounds in real time, and is based on the principle of resonance. The main tool for doing this is a tuning tube placed in a selected spot within the urban sound environment.
Bergen R1 is an outdoor installation which creates an overtone series through resonance, where harmonic intervals are emphasised while background noise is suppressed. Despite the musical transformation, distinctive sounds and noises characteristic of the urban environment remain recognisable – emergency vehicle sirens, the deep throb of trucks, dogs barking and human voices all retain their unmistakable character.
The 'cube' is placed at a location where it can speak to architecture and social use of that site. It’s not just the sound; but the whole situation that is altered and retuned when perceived through a harmonically altered soundscape.
Curated by Carsten Seiffarth and co-produced by Lydgalleriet.